Abattoir invests in supply chain

H G Blake has taken over Roofe Catering Butchers to help ensure a secure supply chain

Norfolk-based abattoir HG Blake has purchased a local butchery business to help increase traceability along its supply chain.

As reported by Eastern Daily Press (EDP), the abattoir has bought out Roofe Catering Butchers for an undisclosed sum to help secure its supply chain.

"HG Blake's founder Hilton Blake was in the meat business from the 1950s. Buying the butcher just seemed like a natural progression,"​ said HG Blake managing director Andrew Clarke to the EDP. "We've got systems in place which mean all of our produce is independently labelled and we can trace each carcass back to which farm it came from. Traceability is something which customers are becoming increasingly conscious of. We also make sure we have the most up-to-date tech to ensure we have the highest levels of animal welfare in our premises.”​

According to the latest accounts filed to Companies House, HG Blakes’s turnover for the year to 31 August 2017 was £16.6m, up from £14.5m in the previous 12 months. The EDP reported staff numbers of 65 plus an additional 25 people from Roofe Catering Butchers.

Scott Roofe, operations manager Roofe Catering Butchers, added: "We understand the importance of traceability to our customers in all of our products, which is why with the backing of H G Blake's abattoir we will now be able to control and monitor the entire process from farm to kitchen."​